Page 12 of Property of Rio

When we infiltrated his room, I didn’t expect to find him in the condition he’s in. I expected him to answer the door and there be some sort of showdown between him and me. To be honest, I’m a little perturbed that it wasn’t me who beat the living shit out of him. I’m gonna give him time to heal and then I’m going to remind him why my right hook is known to cause a lot of internal damage.

“Nighthawk, check the room and make sure there’s nothing that points to the Kings. Grab anything that belongs to him. Nerd, help him out and for fuck’s sake, make sure you wear your fucking gloves,” I order.

As everyone disperses to do my bidding, I crouch down next to Gage. “What the fuck were you thinking?” I murmur, looking at his battered face. “Was it worth betraying the Kings and more importantly, Issy?” I shake my head because I can’t think of any scenario that would cause me or any of my brothers to turn our backs on the people who’ve been at our sides through thick and thin. This goes beyond simple betrayal; he’s just rocked the very foundation Issy was standing on and I won’t sit idly by and watch her fall apart because her trust has been deceived. Gage has a lot to answer for before I decide his fate.

He doesn’t answer, but these are two questions I’ll want answers for when he’s conscious. Hopefully, he survives the trip home because I’m sure it’s going to be extremely uncomfortable.

“Prez, Pokey just called me,” Abyss says to me, walking over to where I’m now standing outside of the motel room contemplating the merit of Gage’s life. He went down to the office and slipped them some cash, so they’d forget they ever saw a group of bikers camped out in their parking lot. Being that this is one of those pay-by-the-hour dumps, I’m sure what he gavethem is more than they make in a month, but it’ll definitely keep them from talking to anyone who comes nosing around.

“What does he know?” I ask.

“He said that BamBam called in and they found the trailer with Stargazer inside. She’s definitely hungry and thirsty, because there’s no food or water inside, but otherwise, she seems okay. The truck’s gone, though, so they’re renting a truck with a ball hitch for the horse trailer, and they’ll put his bike in the back of the truck and tie it down.”

“Can he get her some food?” I question. “See if Pokey can find a farm nearby that has horses. Or wait. Have BamBam call Pancho and ask him what he can grab at Tractor Supply. That might be better and will hopefully keep our business as tight as possible. The less contact we all make with outsiders, the better.”

“I’m on it, Prez,” Abyss acknowledges, walking away with his phone in his hand.

I just know I’ll be glad when we’re back behind the gates of the Triple R. Right now, so much could happen that could blow up in our faces, and I don’t want to endanger Issy any more than she’s already been subjected to. I swear to whatever deity is out there that the Mojave Devils are going to pay for every scrape on her skin. I’m not sure what their end goal was when they abducted her, but I’m going to make them wish their mother had swallowed.

“He’ll live,” Doc assures as he walks into Church to give us a rundown on Gage’s condition. “Gonna hurt for a bit, but we’ll soon get some answers out of him.”

“Promise?” Gopher asks, wanting him to feel every ounce of his injuries for as long as he possibly can. Doc simply shakes his head but the smile on his face lets me know he wasn’t doing so in a chiding manner.

“He’s showing signs of infection, of course, but that’s why God and scientists invented antibiotics,” Doc replies. “Outside of that, he’s got a few broken ribs, his shoulder was dislocated, and of course, multiple bruises and contusions. They worked him over.”

We made it back and put Gage in one of our secure rooms, then let Doc check him over. It wouldn’t do any good for us to let him die before we know what the fuck happened to cause him to abduct Issy and turn against us.

“How’s Stargazer?” I ask BamBam who comes in just behind Doc.

“Pancho says outside of her being a bit dehydrated and obviously hungry, she’s fine,” BamBam replies as he sits down. “He’s got the vet coming out to double-check his findings, but he’s been doing it long enough, I trust his assessment.”

“Alright, so I’ll let Issy know that we got Stargazer back, as well as the trailer. Gonna keep mum about Gage for the time being until we get some answers outta him and I know that if she confronts him there won’t be anything said that I’m not ready to help her face. The truck’s still missing, but it’s now been reported as stolen to the authorities and insurance company, so hopefully, it’ll show up and there’ll be Devils nearby to takethe fall. Because whoever was with Gage has a Kings reckoning coming his way.”

“Absofuckinlutely,” Abyss bellows. “Nobody fucks with the Kings!”

As echoes of his declaration reverberate through the room, I sit back and smirk. This might’ve been done to fuck with us as a club, but the Devils seem to forget that we’re everywhere and there won’t be a stone left unturned as we seek our justice. Our brothers worldwide will help us ensure that.

SEVEN

Isla

I wake up when Rafe slips the sheets aside and slides into bed beside me and in reflex, I turn toward him. “Rafe?” I question, my voice raspy with sleep.

“Go back to sleep, Issy,” he says. “Just got back and need some shut eye.”

“Did everything go okay?” I ask, moving closer toward his body heat.

“Yeah, babe. I’ll tell you as much as I can when I wake up, alright?”

“Okay, Rafe.”

With his assurances ringing in my ears, I allow his warmth to lull me back to sleep. It may be a false sense of security, especially since we’re just friends, but I let myself luxuriate in the notion that he’s mine in all ways and has just come in from a run. Granted, if that was the truth, I’d probably be naked and yeah…notgonna go there right now. I don’t want to wake him up and have him realize that I’m squirming in desire next to him.

That’d be one way to destroy what we have and I’m unwilling to allow that to happen.

The sun’s fully up and I’ve already been down to the barn, spent time with Starlight and noticed that Stargazer was back when I see Rafe walking toward me. I know my smile is radiant because he and his brothers found my horse, so I can’t help but run in his direction, laughing in pure joy. When I jump, he catches me and twirls me around, holding me close like he always does whenever I do this very thing.

“You found her!” I squeal once he sets me back on my feet. I wobble a bit, but his steadying hand on my elbow balances me and keeps me from falling on my ass.

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